PMIC - Hot Swap Controllers are semiconductor devices designed to enable the safe insertion or removal of components in a circuit while power is still flowing. They provide essential in-circuit protection and control features to ensure that this process can be carried out without causing damage to the components or disruption to the circuit operation.
These controllers are particularly useful in computer networking systems, as well as general-purpose power systems, where components may need to be added or removed without interrupting the overall operation of the system. By incorporating hot swap controllers into the circuit design, components can be "hot swapped" without the need to power down the entire system, resulting in improved uptime and system availability.
Hot swap controllers are differentiated by various features, including the maximum output current they can handle, the number of controlled channels they support, and additional special features they offer. The maximum output current specification determines the amount of current that the controller can safely handle during the insertion or removal process. The number of controlled channels indicates the number of components that can be simultaneously inserted or removed under the control of a single hot swap controller.
Additionally, these controllers may offer special features such as auto retry, fault timeout, and various protection mechanisms. Auto retry allows the controller to automatically retry the insertion or removal process if an initial attempt fails, ensuring a higher success rate. Fault timeout refers to a predetermined time limit for how long the controller will allow a faulty component to remain connected before taking protective action, such as disconnecting it from the circuit. Various protection mechanisms, such as overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, and thermal shutdown, safeguard the components and the circuit from potential damage during hot swapping.
PMIC - Hot Swap Controllers are crucial components in systems that require the ability to add or remove components on the fly. Their incorporation ensures the integrity and reliability of the circuit during hot swapping operations, and their features enhance the overall performance and protection of the system.
